Runner’s knee is a common term that describes patellofemoral syndrome – a condition where the kneecap does not track properly resulting in pain.

When the knee joint flexes and extends, the patella tracks in a groove.   The grove is protected by thick cartilage and lubricated by synovial fluid, which allows the patella to glide while you are moving your knee.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome occurs when the patella does not track correctly in its grove, irritating soft tissues and bone around the kneecap. In some cases, breakdown of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap lead to inflammation and pain in the underlying bone.

Injury Can Come from Two Main Conditions:

  • Quadricep or the mechanism of extending the knee pulls the patella improperly.
  • An imbalance in the alignment of the femur and tibia, which is typically caused by a combination of pelvic and muscle imbalances and excessive foot pronation.

The above two conditions can be trigger by:

  • Increase in running distance.
  • Repetition of the bending the knee – such as going up and down stairs, squats, sitting for long periods of time.
  • Improper foot wear.
  • Weak hip muscle.
  • Flattened arches.
  • Hypermobile joints.

Symptoms of Runner’s Knee:

  • Pain located under the patella or the lateral side of the patellar.
  • Insidious onset of knee pain, with a history of trauma.
  • Pain worse during and after activity.
  • Pain and stiffness may be felt when getting up from sitting.
  • Pain with prolonged bending of the knee – such as sitting in a long car ride or movie theater.
  • More common in women because the female pelvis is wider.

I approach treating your knee pain to your presentation, which involves:

  • Analyzing your posture – is your pelvis aligned with your knees?
  • Discussing potential lifestyle dynamics impacting the effected knee.
  • Understanding how other factors such as weak gluts and overactive quad can aggravate the problem.
  • Muscle testing the muscles impacting the knee for weakness and pain.
  • Targeting effected muscles, releasing motor points, trigger points and relaxing the fascia.
  • Providing exercises to continue treatment success between acupuncture treatments.

Call (914) 572-5137 today or click here to schedule an appointment & learn more about how we can help you.